West Fargo approves Oracle NetSuite ERP purchase and implementation plan

The West Fargo City Commission approved a resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute agreements to purchase and implement Oracle NetSuite for Government as the city’s enterprise resource planning system.

Nick Lee, senior director of administrative services, briefed commissioners on a competitive RFP and evaluation process that considered 13 proposals and multiple demonstrations. Staff recommended Oracle NetSuite for Government based on functionality and value, and proposed a contingency to secure temporary implementation expertise if needed to keep the project on schedule.

Key details: The contract covers core financial management functions (accounting, budgeting, purchasing, reporting). The commission approved a five‑year purchase with an optional five‑year renewal at an identified rate; staff intends to perform the implementation primarily in‑house and requested a contingency for temporary assistance if staffing capacity becomes constrained. The administration indicated the one‑time implementation costs are expected to be funded from capital improvement sales tax and ongoing subscription costs will be budgeted in the finance operating budget.

Commission discussion touched on project management and continuity concerns; commissioners welcomed the move toward a modern, cloud‑hosted system to improve institutional knowledge retention and business continuity. The city’s target go‑live date is January 1, 2028.

The commission approved the motion on a roll‑call vote. Staff will next finalize contracting and begin implementation planning.